This past week was spring break for the local institutional schools (public, university, and so on).  We do not follow the institutional school schedule. We are homeschoolers! (What can I say, it’s one of the benefits…)

 Ok, I have to stop here because Pumpkin was reading over my shoulder and choked out “BENEFITS!?!?!?!?”  I confess, my head swivelled. “You don’t consider taking two weeks off in the middle of October when all the other public school kids are slaving away to go to Disney in the sweet season BENEFITS????”  She rapidly rethought her position and began bobbing her head in agreement while muttering something about ‘thought you meant all the extra school work we get done’… ungrateful wretch that she is… harumph.  So I turned to her and said that for penance she could go make me a fresh cup of tea.  I’m pleased to inform you all that she burst out laughing. *big grin* (As it was purely amusement at the audacity of my request, and not disrespectful, I consider that an indicator of successful parenting.)  Once her mirth was under control, she said she WOULD make me a fresh cuppa, because she loves me. Awwwwwwwwwww.

Where was I… So when my children heard it was spring break and all the public school kids were going to be out for the entire week they turned speculative gleams mom-ward.  It was MY turn to burst into laughter.  I am so not that easy. After informing them that we would certainly not be taking off an entire week thankyouverymuch, I granted that we might take a day off as nice weather was in the forecast. They thought this a lovely concession and went away happy discussing which day they would choose to take off. As if they would get a choice. HA.

Tuesday was lovely so we took the afternoon off (I had intended to do so provided we schooled in the morning and had nice weather) and all day Wednesday.  Both days were the peak weather for the week and by far the best weather we’ve seen since last fall.  Warm enough that the girls were out in shorts and bare feet, playing in the grass and the stream that runs through our back yard.  By Wednesday afternoon, they had used up a good bit of that spring fever and settled a bit. 

My girls aren’t your average girls, they aren’t the type who only think of boys and make-up and clothes. When they get out, they ride bikes, swing on a rope, play dart guns or soccer with the boys down the street, shoot bb or pellet guns/bows and arrows, try to get a thrown knife to stick every time, track animals in the woods and by the stream (for fun, we don’t kill them) etc… however the usual result of being shoo’d out of doors is that they end up reading books on a blanket or beach towel in the sun instead of inside. The cats joined them for some love and provided the occasional break from the books.

Thursday saw the return of cold weather. Despite the tentative shoots put up by bulbs, new growth on trees, etc, spring is still some weeks away.  It was back to the grindstone for us as well.  Lessons done while the weather is dreary mean lighter days when the sun beckons and warm breezes blow. Still, even though it wasn’t REALLY spring, it was a blessing and a nice break with hints of the glory to come.